- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,310
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Before discussions begin on line about The Sound of Music being optically soft, as North by Northwest was presumed to be optically soft, allow me to repeat what I noted upon that Blu-ray release.
Certain parts of the film were shot using softening filters toward different kinds for image diffusion. In that Blu-ray, it can easily be discerned.
Same thing with The Sound of Music.
Comparing the new Blu-ray to the previous standard def release, which I found problematic, is rather like comparing a flawless diamond to a piece of sea-worn glass.
There is no comparison.
Both visually and sonically, my hat is off to Fox's Schawn Belston and his selection of facilities and individuals to handle the myriad of problems for this heavily used 45 year old musical, one of the best-loved films of all time.
Viewing the new Blu-ray, which was apparently scanned from a 65mm interpositive in 8k by FotoKem, is an extraordinary home theater experience. The larger one can view this release, the better it's going to look. The vibrancy of colors, richness of blacks, shadow detail, and total lack of misuse of digital tools is extremely evident. The final result looks very much like film. And in those unfiltered scenes -- the overall detail is stunning.
In the history of film one could probably come up with just a few dozen titles for which the filmmaker was perfect for the project. This is one of them. An intelligent, kind and gentle film, directed by one of the most kind and gentle filmmakers to ever work in the industry. The Sound of Music is Robert Wise.
I've mentioned before that there are currently two studios doing the highest level of preservation and restoration work, with that work going through to the final stages of Blu-ray production. One is Sony, which I prefer to think of as Columbia. The other is Fox, as I've noted above, what you're seeing is the work of Schawn Belston. I can't wait to see what he'll eventually do with Patton. Now there's a film that takes the other ethic of 65mm origination, ie. general lack of filtration and sharp as a tack.
As a bit of minutia, but important minutia, fans of Marni Nixon get to see her in Sound of Music. Just look for Sister Sophia in the Maria number. For those who may not know the name, just think of her as Eliza Doolittle, Maria, Terry McKay, Anna Leonowens and others, all wrapped up into one incredibly talented package. While much of the film was dubbed with other singing voices, per Ms. Nixon, everyone in the Maria sequence was a professional singer, including Portia Nelson. The only actress to have a vocal replacement was Peggy Wood.
The Sound of Music was the Best Picture of 1965. It is still one of the greatest films every created.
This Blu-ray is up to the task of reproducing it.
Very Highly Recommended.
RAH
Certain parts of the film were shot using softening filters toward different kinds for image diffusion. In that Blu-ray, it can easily be discerned.
Same thing with The Sound of Music.
Comparing the new Blu-ray to the previous standard def release, which I found problematic, is rather like comparing a flawless diamond to a piece of sea-worn glass.
There is no comparison.
Both visually and sonically, my hat is off to Fox's Schawn Belston and his selection of facilities and individuals to handle the myriad of problems for this heavily used 45 year old musical, one of the best-loved films of all time.
Viewing the new Blu-ray, which was apparently scanned from a 65mm interpositive in 8k by FotoKem, is an extraordinary home theater experience. The larger one can view this release, the better it's going to look. The vibrancy of colors, richness of blacks, shadow detail, and total lack of misuse of digital tools is extremely evident. The final result looks very much like film. And in those unfiltered scenes -- the overall detail is stunning.
In the history of film one could probably come up with just a few dozen titles for which the filmmaker was perfect for the project. This is one of them. An intelligent, kind and gentle film, directed by one of the most kind and gentle filmmakers to ever work in the industry. The Sound of Music is Robert Wise.
I've mentioned before that there are currently two studios doing the highest level of preservation and restoration work, with that work going through to the final stages of Blu-ray production. One is Sony, which I prefer to think of as Columbia. The other is Fox, as I've noted above, what you're seeing is the work of Schawn Belston. I can't wait to see what he'll eventually do with Patton. Now there's a film that takes the other ethic of 65mm origination, ie. general lack of filtration and sharp as a tack.
As a bit of minutia, but important minutia, fans of Marni Nixon get to see her in Sound of Music. Just look for Sister Sophia in the Maria number. For those who may not know the name, just think of her as Eliza Doolittle, Maria, Terry McKay, Anna Leonowens and others, all wrapped up into one incredibly talented package. While much of the film was dubbed with other singing voices, per Ms. Nixon, everyone in the Maria sequence was a professional singer, including Portia Nelson. The only actress to have a vocal replacement was Peggy Wood.
The Sound of Music was the Best Picture of 1965. It is still one of the greatest films every created.
This Blu-ray is up to the task of reproducing it.
Very Highly Recommended.
RAH